Toe and foot supporter and ballet-shoe form-retainer



Dec. 15, 1931. A. L. SOTHEN 1,836,624

TOE AND FOOT SUPPORTER AND BALLET SHOE FORM RETAINER Filed 0013. 16, 1929 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES ALBERT L. so'rnmv, or cnrcaoo, rnrmors TOE AND FOOT SUPPORTER AND BALLET-SHOE FoRM RETAINER Application filed October 16, 1929. Serial No. 400,111. i

This invention relates to a novel and improved toe and foot supporter and balletshoe form-retainer.

One of the chief objects of this invention His to provide means or a device to be attached to a toe-dancing shoe or ballet shoe, for supporting the foot as well as the toes, and also to properly retain .the form of the shoe and protect it fromwear. Another object is to 1 provide such a device or attachment which is sufliciently wide at the bottom portion and which has properly curved upstanding portions, to furnish a broad and complete support for the foot at the toe-joint, that is, at the part of the foot where the strain on the dancers foot and toes is the greatest. A

further object is to provide such a device or attachment which Wlll prevent the ballet shoe from breaking-out at the sides and from spreading out of shape. A still further object is to provide such a device or attachment which has all parts integral and unitary, to aid in economy, including a bottom portion to provide a broad and complete support for the foot at the part of greatest strain, also a dished toe portion for snugly embracing the rounded toe part of the shoe, and upwardly curved side portions for supporting the foot at the toe-joints, where the strainis greatest during toe-dancing; by which construction the foot is held in a correct strainless position.

These objects and other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toe dancing shoe with my invention mounted in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved toe and foot supporter and ballet-shoe formretainer.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevational view of this improved device.

ig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings my invention is shown in its preferred form of construction, comprisin a bottom memberor plate 7, which is su stantially flat or straight and is relatively broad, to fit beneaththe front part 8 of the bottom member or sole 9 of the ballet shoe.

or toedancing shoe 10. Openings 11 are 55':

at its front end with a dishedor bowl-shaped 60.

portion 13, for correctly'fitting and embracing the toe part 14 ofthe shoe. Said portion 13 is preferably formed integral with the plate,- said plate merging with its front end into the upwardly curved and dished toe portion. Openings 15 and grooves 16 extending therefrom are provided in said toe portion, for receiving stitchings 17 to secure. slaid toe portion to the toe part14 ofthe s cc.

.The plate 7 is provided at the intermediate part of each side with an upwardly curved projection or lip 18, which is preferably made integral with the plate, and which is located at the toe-joint part 19 of the shoe; that is, said lips are positioned on the'plateto embrace the side parts of theshoe at the particular points where the toes join the foot within the shoe; which is the portion of the dancers foot where the strain is the greatest .0

during toe dancing. Holes 20 and grooves 21 extending therefrom are provided in the upper parts of said lips, for receiving stitchings 22 to secure the lips to said toe-joint part of the shoe.

This device is preferably constructed to have all parts integral, and is preferablymade of metal, as aluminum, or also of a rigid compressed fibre.

This disclosed construction provides complete support for the foot, at the toe-joints,

where the strain is the greatest, and prevents spreading of the foot at said joints; and furthermore prevents spreading out of the shoe, to become out of shape, and the frequent ripping and tearing thereof at the toe portion.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An attachment for a toe dancing shoe,

comprising a relatively broad and flat bot-' tom plate merging at its front end into an upwardly curved bowl-shaped toe portion, and side lips curved upwardly from the inter mediate parts of the side edges of said plate to embrace the toe part of the shoe at the toe-joints, all parts of said attachment being integral.

2. An attachment for a toe dancingshoe, consisting of a unitary member comprising a bottom plate to fit under the front part of the shoe, a bo-wl-shapedtoe portion curved v upwards from the front end of said plate and. being integral therewith, to embrace the front of the toe part of the shoe, and integral lips curved upwards from the side edges of said plate to embracethe toe-joint portion of the shoe, thereby providing asmooth surfaced support for protecting the shoe against spreading and tearing at'the essential dancin'g portion, and also completely supporting the foot inthe correctstrainless position in the shoe. V

3. An attachment for a toe dancing shoe, consisting of a unitary membervcomprising a broad and. straight bottom plate to be se-- cured under the 'front part of the shoe, a bowl-shaped toe-portion integral with and curved upwards from the front end of said plate for embracing the front end of the toe part of the shoe, and side lips integral with and curved upwards fromthe middle part of the side edges of said plate for embracing the shoe at the toe-joints, thereby providinga broad and complete'isupport with. a smoothupper surface for the foot and especially at the essential toe-joint portion where the strain is the 'greatest,fand also preventing the shoe from spreading out of shape and breaking out and tearing at the toe-joint part thereof. J

In testimony whereof I have signed m nameto: this specification.

1 1 ALBERT L. SOTHEN. 

